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For Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) players, Hungary is a popular region due to its highly detailed community-made add-ons. While MSTS is a legacy simulator from 2001, the Hungarian modding scene remains active, often transitioning content to the Open Rails engine for better performance. Key Hungarian Add-ons & Routes

Alföld Route: Widely considered the "gold standard" for Hungarian content.

Scope: Covers the Great Hungarian Plain, including major hubs like Budapest-Nyugati, Szolnok, and Debrecen.

Pros: Massive scale (hundreds of kilometers), accurate signaling, and diverse scenery ranging from dense urban areas to flat agricultural plains.

Cons: Older versions can feel "schematic" in complex bottlenecks like Szolnok compared to newer, more detailed patches.

Balaton Routes: These focus on the scenic lines surrounding Lake Balaton, particularly the southern shore from Budapest-Déli to Nagykanizsa (Line 30).

Hungarian 120a Route: Focuses on the line between Budapest-Keleti and Szolnok via Újszász. It is praised for its excellent trackwork and atmospheric terrain. Rolling Stock (Trains) msts+hungary

The Hungarian community has produced high-quality models of iconic MÁV (Hungarian State Railways) equipment:

V43 "Szili": The workhorse electric locomotive of Hungary, featured in countless activities.

M62 "Szergej": Large Soviet-built diesel locomotives popular for heavy freight tasks.

Ganz Units: Various DMUs and EMUs that capture the unique "retro" feel of Central European rail. Verdict for Modern Players

If you are looking for a modern experience, many of these MSTS assets have been adapted for Open Rails, which supports higher resolutions and smoother frame rates than the original 2001 engine. The "Alföld" route remains a must-download for anyone wanting a comprehensive simulation of Hungarian rail operations.

Microsoft Train Simulator Hungarian addon "Alföld Retro 6.4" For Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) players, Hungary is

First Stop: Vörös Híd (The Red Bridge)

I fired up the "Székesfehérvár–Komárom" regional route. My steed for the day was the legendary MÁV V63 "Gigant." For the uninitiated, the Gigant looks like a silver bullet designed by a committee of Soviet engineers and Italian stylists. It is boxy, it is powerful, and in MSTS, it sounds like a swarm of angry bees having a bar fight inside a washing machine.

The soundpack is crucial here. The Hungarian community didn't just record generic diesel sounds. They went to Szolnok depot at 3 AM with a $20 microphone and recorded the actual hydraulic whine of a real V63. When you throttle up, you feel the lag. When you brake, you hear the squeal of cast iron blocks on rusted wheels.

Leaving Vörös Híd station, the sun is setting (I cheated and used the Environment tab to force a sunset). The signals—Hungarian EÉVB signals, which are a labyrinth of red and white lights that look like angry robot faces—flick from "Stop" to "Proceed at 40."

Example Use Cases

The Birth of the Hungarian MSTS Scene

When MSTS was released in 2001, the global community quickly began creating content. However, the Hungarian rail network (MÁV – Magyar Államvasutak) presented a unique challenge. Unlike the straightforward freight lines of the US or the high-speed corridors of Germany, Hungarian rail infrastructure is characterized by complex interlockings, unique signaling systems (EÉVB), and a diverse fleet of Ganz-MÁVAG locomotives.

Early Hungarian developers faced a steep learning curve. They had to reverse-engineer the sim’s core files to create custom track shapes that accurately represented the 1,435mm standard gauge but with Hungarian-specific sleeper spacing and ballast profiles. By 2004, the first stable MSTS Hungary route packs began appearing on forums like MSTS-Trainz.hu and Vasútportál.

Pro Installation Tips: Getting MSTS Hungary to Run

Running Hungarian content on stock MSTS is frustrating. The original game had memory limits that cause crashes on long routes like Budapest–Debrecen. Do this instead: First Stop: Vörös Híd (The Red Bridge) I

  1. Open Rails: Download and install Open Rails (free). It runs all MSTS content natively, removes memory limits, and adds dynamic lighting.
  2. Use the "MSTS Hungary Core Pack": Before adding routes, download the core sound and texture pack that Hungarian developers rely on. Without it, you will see "missing shape" errors.
  3. Locale Settings: Hungarian routes use special characters (á, é, ö, ü). Set your Windows system locale to Hungarian before unzipping files, or use a tool like "Locale Emulator" to avoid broken file paths.

2. The Mátra Line (Gyöngyös – Kisterenye)

For those who prefer scenic, secondary main lines, the Mátra line is a must. Winding through the volcanic hills of Northern Hungary, this route is a test of gradient management.

Playing Today on Modern PCs

MSTS from 2001 doesn’t run well on Windows 10/11 without fixes. The Hungarian community recommends:

  1. Open Rails (openrails.org) – A free, open-source reimplementation of MSTS. Hungarian routes and stock work flawlessly, with improved graphics, longer draw distances, and real-time shadows. Most Hungarian add-ons now explicitly support Open Rails.
  2. MSTS 1.4 + Hungarian Patch – A collection of memory patches and multi-core fixes.
  3. Train Simulator 20XX Conversion – Some Hungarian developers now release models for Dovetail’s Train Simulator, but the purest MSTS+Open Rails experience remains the most popular.

3. International Hubs

9. Verdict – Is It Worth It in 2025?

For nostalgic railfans / historians:
Absolutely yes. The Hungarian MSTS/OR content captures the 1990s–2000s MÁV atmosphere perfectly.

For newcomers:
Skip MSTS.exe – use Open Rails + download a complete Hungarian route pack from VPE. You’ll need patience for manual installs.

For realism/eye candy:
Use Train Simulator Classic (Hungarian routes from Pro Train, RailSimulator.com) or wait for upcoming Train Sim World Hungarian content (none confirmed as of 2025).